The Best World Cafe Performances From 2013
We sifted through all 188 bands and individual artists that joined us to perform on the World Cafe in 2013 and we have settled on the very best for these two hours. It wasn’t easy.
I get to sit opposite singers or in the midst of the bands (I’m usually next to the drummer) every day as we talk about the music. It’s only later as we listen to the playback that I get to hear how extraordinary the songs we capture really are. Nobody phones it in. Even if they have driven all night from Boston they bring it for The World Cafe and ultimately you.

May 20, 2013 - Taylor Goldsmith, the songwriter for the Los Angeles based band Dawes, writes heartfelt first-person songs somewhat in the style of his So Cal Laurel Canyon predecessors like Jackson Browne. In an exhaustive interview today with the Cafe’s Michaela Majoun he tells about the inspiration on many of the new songs on Stories Don't End.

August 23, 2013 - This week on Conversations from the World Cafe, Dawes talk about their latest album Stories Don’t End. The LA based group has become known for a sound that harkens back to Laurel Canyon in the 70s, but with Stories Don’t End singer Taylor Goldsmith had hoped fans would hear a wider field of influences.

May 15, 2013 - Dawes talk about their new album Stories Don’t End. The LA based group has become known for a sound that harkens back to Laurel Canyon in the 70s, but with Stories Don’t End singer Taylor Goldsmith had hoped fans would hear a wider field of influences. He and his brother, Dawes drummer Griffin Goldsmith, discuss that with the Cafe’s Michaela Majoun, as well as look back on the success of their last disc Nothing is Wrong and their turning point tour with Mumford & Sons. And Milk Carton Kids. The duo of Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan gave away their first albums for free, but with their new one The Ash & Clay, they have signed to ANTI-Records and tried the more traditional approach. They talk about the reasons behind both decisions, and why their partnership can be compared to a marriage.

May 20, 2013 - Taylor Goldsmith, the songwriter for the Los Angeles based band Dawes, writes heartfelt first-person songs somewhat in the style of his So Cal Laurel Canyon predecessors like Jackson Browne. In an exhaustive interview today with the Cafe’s Michaela Majoun he tells about the inspiration on many of the new songs on Stories Don't End.

A festival veteran and April 2010’s Artist To Watch, Dawes will be captivating audiences at XPoNential once again with driving beats and lively presence. Their new release, Stories Don’t End is another collection of excellent songs featuring the storytelling and songwriting work of lead singer Taylor Goldsmith.

In making their third album, Stories Don't End, Dawes explored new found independence, new partnerships, and a change in scenery. Despite all those variables the results are very true to what we’ve come to love about this band. Dawes rekindled the spirit of the 1970s Laurel Canyon scene on their first two albums. And while we reconnected to a sound that may have felt familiar, we really fell for a band that was creating a personality all its own. On Stories Don't End, they harness that personality and truly reflect what we’ve seen blossoming over the last four years.

Dawes is sold out but you can still Listen & WATCH the performance LIVE on Friday at 12noon ET!

Last summer Dawes lit up the night with their bright Americana rock n' roll at the XPoNential Music Festival. Their performance was one of the festival's highlights. Listen to the full performance here and check out the photo gallery too.

Dawes' new album, Stories Don't End, is set for release on April 9 and XPN's Free At Noon audience is one of the first to hear some of their new music live. The album is the band's first release on its own label, HUB Records, and features the already hit single, "From A Window Seat."

Dawes played SXSW in Austin last week, then heads to Dallas and Nashville, before hitting the east coast, with a stop in Baltimore. Then on to Maine and Vermont. They will be back in the tri-state area on April 12, at the Bob Carpenter Center (tix), opening for Bob Dylan. You can find all of their tour dates here: Dawes Tour Dates

The debut album North Hills, released September 29, 2009, from the local LA quartet and XPN Artist To Watch, Dawes (featuring members of the old Record Collection Simon Dawes) fringes with a blend of classic 70's folk-rock and contemporary embellishments.

When we first met the band Dawes early in 2010 it was almost like being reintroduced to an old friend. Their classic folk-rock sensibilities and contemporary storytelling made for a comfortable, inspiring discovery. North Hills, the title of their debut was a deliberate nod to their Laurel Canyon home and their sound indicative of the neighborhoods musical landscape, both past and present. Nothing Is Wrong, the band’s sophomore album, further embraces their geographic roots and reminds us how easy it is to get wrapped up their lush harmonies and wistful stories.

The debut album North Hills, released September 29, 2009, from the local LA quartet and XPN Artist To Watch, Dawes (featuring members of the old Record Collection Simon Dawes) fringes with a blend of classic 70's folk-rock and contemporary embellishments.

Special Note: Today’s Dawes FAN will be a solo acoustic performance from Taylor Goldsmith for more information go here

The Free At Noon Concert with Dawes is at the World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, PA!

They live for the stage, pouring every ounce of their work into soul-bearing live performances; and show no signs of slowing down. The L.A. quartet's blend of classic '70s folk-rock and contemporary flair made their debut "North Hills" an instant hit, quickly pushing them onto everyone's radar. The combination of Taylor Goldsmith's lyrical and powerful voice and the backing folk-pop harmonies managed to capture the nuances of sorrow and optimism all throughout an overarching thread of mature condidence. Along with instrumental backing from Griffin Goldsmith (Tayler's younger brother), Wylie Gelber and Tay Strathairn (who replaced original member Alex Casnoff), this was a fine-tuned recipe for early success.

Two years since their debut, they are now preparing for the release of their sophomore effort, "Nothing Is Wrong," which is bound to evoke the same sense of nostalgia and anticipation that made their debut a standout. Going for more of a Springsteen/Petty American rock and roll sound, Dawes ultimately recorded the album at Echo Park studio between touring. According to the band, "the difference between this record and [2009's North Hills] is that this one has a much more live quality, because they were learned and arranged on stage."

A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music. Made possible by support from XPN Members, and Comcast.

The debut album North Hills from the local LA quartet Dawes (featuring members of the old Record Collection Simon Dawes) fringes with a blend of classic 70's folk-rock and contemporary embellishments. Ultimately this clever mixture evokes a sense of nostalgia and refreshing anticipation all at the same time.